London vs Birmingham
Renting in London costs £1,049/month more than Birmingham.
Rent comparison
Overall, renting in Birmingham is £1,049/month cheaper than London - that's £12,588/year.
Source: ONS Price Index of Private Rents (PIPR)
Earnings comparison
Residents of London earn £10,170/year more than those in Birmingham.
Source: ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings
House prices comparison
House prices in London are £338,840 (143%) higher than in Birmingham.
Over the last 10 years, house prices in London have risen by 19.4%, compared to 61.2% in Birmingham.
Source: ONS / HM Land Registry
Council tax comparison
You would pay £273/year more in council tax (Band D) living in Birmingham than in London.
| Band | London | Birmingham | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Band A | £1,393 | £1,575 | Birmingham +£182/yr |
| Band B | £1,626 | £1,838 | Birmingham +£212/yr |
| Band C | £1,858 | £2,100 | Birmingham +£242/yr |
| Band D Benchmark | £2,090 | £2,363 | Birmingham +£273/yr |
| Band E | £2,555 | £2,888 | Birmingham +£333/yr |
| Band F | £3,019 | £3,413 | Birmingham +£394/yr |
| Band G | £3,483 | £3,938 | Birmingham +£455/yr |
| Band H | £4,180 | £4,726 | Birmingham +£546/yr |
Source: MHCLG / Scottish Government / Welsh Government
Band D is used as the standard benchmark for comparing council tax across areas. Other bands are set as fixed proportions of the Band D amount.
Energy comparison
| Measure | London | Birmingham |
|---|---|---|
| Annual | £1,723 | £1,723 |
| Monthly | £144 | £144 |
| Energy region | London | West Midlands |
Energy estimates are based on the Ofgem price cap, which is set nationally. Regional variation is small; we show the same headline figure across regions for transparency.
Source: Ofgem Energy Price Cap, Q4 2026
Water comparison
| Measure | London | Birmingham |
|---|---|---|
| Annual | £666 | £594 |
| Monthly | £56 | £50 |
| Water company | Thames Water | Severn Trent Water |
Water in London costs about £72/year more than in Birmingham.
Source: Water UK / Discover Water, 2026-27
Water company boundaries don't always align cleanly with local authority boundaries; the company shown here is the most common provider in each area.
Crime comparison
Crime data is not available for London.
Source: Home Office / Scottish Government recorded crime
Recording practices vary between police forces. Crime rates reflect reported and recorded crime only.
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